Apparatus for reconditioning the interior of containers



April 8- s. F. KIMBALL 2,115,202

APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1933 I 7 Sheets-Sheet l R I 71 1/16 for .Saznuell'lfimkall bearcu nuv 154. CLEANING AND LIQUID 8, ICONTACT WITH SOLIDS April 26, 1938. s. F. KIMBALL APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1933 7 Sheets-SheetZ April 26, 1938. s. F. KIMBALL APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 S. F. KIMBALL April 26, 1938.

APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIONING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 26, 1938. s F. KIMBALL APPARATUS FOR RECCNDITIONING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I77 we 71 50 r E ,fallulel 1 7 mball April 26, 1938. s. F. KIMBALL' APPARATUS FOR RECQNDITIO NING THE INTERIOR OF CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 @Hdlnu \N I bwelviol' fianzuelllfl'mball 2, v 4 1 "By max s nars, e 8] I 2,115,202

2,115,203 V 7 APPARATUS roa nncormrrionmo" 'rrfri INTER IQR F CONTAINERS Samuel F. rel-handmade,-

The Portland Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation-of Maine 2 Application September '14, 1933, Serial No. 689,425 iz-onim gf (cl; 141-6); 7 My present invention contemplates'a noveltype requiring manual movement oi'fthe containers .of machine adapted to wash, rinse andthe from station to station. interiors oi containers, particularly of barrel or Another major problem has been that of thorcask type, so that such containers may he thoroughly drying the containers. Inasmuch as i oughly reconditioned. U

V V most, if not all, containersof barrel type, have 5 Many containers now in use in commerce areso annular grooves; chimes orlips, the barrels will costly-that re-use' is economic necessity. -The not completely drain through the bung. Since substances carriedtherein present varied barrel reconditioning requires thorough drying, problems as to" the cleansing or the interiors. to overcome thisdifliculty Intilize-a siphon to re- 10 Some eiiorts have been made to accomplish'this move eflectively all-water collected in the'grooves. l0 task by machine, but as yet this work is inprac- So that under the most adverse conditions the tice almost entirely done by manual labor. reconditioning oi the barrels may be uninter- The container must bethoroughly washed, rupted, I propose, among other factorsytouse 'clean'sed and dried, or else the re-use oi the conduplicate tanks for both the washing and the tainer will: prove false economy by reason of sorinsing fluids so that one may he flushedput; re- 15- lutions or suspensions of the substance carried, filled and heated to the propertemperature while and by the presence of dirt, impurities, or other theother is being used in actual reconditioning substances remaining in the container. At the operation. 7 I r f same time, it is essential to keep the cost of re- In the drawings'l have shown an illustrative a conditioning down-and this demands that the embodiment of my invention, and throughout 2 barrels bereconditioned rapidly. .The cost of the the drawings and specifications, like reference .fluids and of hea ing the fluids even where the characters are used to indicate corresponding water rates are a negligible factor have also-been parts. In the drawings: Y

' real obstacles. Other problems involved and Fig. 1 is a plan view of a'machine in accordtheir solutions will appearirom the ensuing de ance with my invention. scription. w Fig. 2 isa side elevation partly sectioned of the My concept solves these problems on the basis same.

of a rotatable container carrier, fed from and Fig. 3 is a plan view '01 the base of such madlscharging into fluid tanks, and capable. of chine exposing the fluid supply and control syswashing, rinsing and thoroughly drying cont'aintern with rotatable conveyor and upperparts re- 30 ing to my invention as herein discussed by the rinsing station.

ers entirely automatically without anyhandling moved.

of the container by' the operator from the time Fig. 4 is a' transverse sectional view on the it is positioned on the carrier until it is removed line 4-4, of Fig- .5. r therefrom. ThisI am able to accomplish accord- 5 P y sectioned w through the 35 injection of washing and drying fluids into the Fig. 6. is a'similar view of the-washing stabarrel at suitable temperatures under pressure, tion. f 1 e and drainingand drying the interlorby the use Fig. '7 is a similar view through the air drying of a siphon and compressed air after each inand drain station. r a 0 jection. e Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical section 40 One factor of importance, as indicated, is the through the central concentric supply and rinse supply of fluids. Since a large number or units pipes as indicated at H, of Fig.1'1. mustbe cleansed, a large amount of water must Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section on the line' be used. This water is heated to a suitable tem- 9-9 of Fig. 7, through the inside supply pipe perature, and while it willinevitably have to be to the control.

45 replaced, economy and efliciency demand that Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail showing the the fluid be kept in circuit as long as possible siphon and drain for'the containers. and until unflt for further use. The washing and Fig. ,11 is a plan cross section I on the line rinsing water should be kept independent of l|.-l|, of Fig. 10. v each other and not allowed to mix so-that the Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of .a piston control 50 condition oi-each fluidcan be determined and valve. the water or solution replaced or re-heated only Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section on the indiwhen necessary. Thefluid circuits are so imporcated, line lS-Ll, of Fig. 4, showing the control vtaut that an eflicientsmall capacity machine valve for the rinse tanks, and may be constructed employing this feature but Fig. 14 is a section substantially on the line base i are positioned the fluid tanks, the pumps,

the drainage collecting and return conduits and the cam track. The container carrier contains a plurality of container receivers each including a nozzle and fluid exhausting means, fluid and air delivery conduits to each receiver, and a valve for eachreceiver in-control of those conduits adapted to be actuated by said cams, all of which and the operation thereof will hereinafter be fully described.

In the base is a tank W for washing water and a tank R for rising water. As it is desirable to keep my apparatus in operation uninter-' rupted by the filling, draining, or cleaning of the tanks, or by the heating of the fluids, I provide duplicate tanks W and R in the base i, which may be used alternately with the tanks W and B respectively. The washing fluid tanks W and W and the rinsing fluid tanks R and R are provided with scum traps W and R respectively (see Fig. 3).

Each tank is provided with a valve controlled inlet pipe 3 influenced by a float 5' and to which inlet pipe i may be attached any such means as a hose for flushing out the interior of the tanks, as is shown at l in Fig. 3 in connection with the tank W Valve controlled drains 8 permit eachltank to be drained. Each tank is provided with heating means shown at Q in the tank W (Fig. 3) and only indicated in the other tanks to simplify the drawings. The heating means are controlled as by thermostats indicated at 9 Pumps it are provided for each fluid. Each pump it is connected by intake pipes H to both tanks for each fluid. The pims H are controlled by valves ll so that any tank may be connected to the pump ill for that fluid while the other tank for that fluid is either held in readiness or being prepared for use.

From the pump l for'the washing fluid, a main [12 leads into a riser head 6 extending into the container carrier S, and from the pump ill for the rinsing fluid a main l3 passes axially through the head 6 (see Figs. 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8). g The arcuate inner edge of each tank supports the outer end of one of the two crossed arms 52 which are centrally apertured to permit the passage therethrough of the riser 6 supported thereon by the members This may also be seen in Fig. 4.

Adjacent the riser head 6 and the inner ends of the arms 52 a rotatable hub and heating are indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The hub 50 has spoke-like arms 53 carrying the gear 54 in mesh with a pinion 54 v (Fig. 1), operatively connected through suitable shafts and gearing (not shown) to the driving motor M.

The arms 53 support an inner wall 55. The outer wall 51 and the middle wall 56 are secured together by radial wall members 63, some of which extend like spokes to a common anchor plate 64 at the center (see Fig. 1).

A wall 5'! is spaced inwardly fromand connected to the outer wall 51 by a frame indicated at F, Fig. 7, which frame is provided with supporting wheels 59 adapted to travel as the 58 on the base from the nozzle and The walls 5'! and the outer wall 51 support an inwardly sloping floor 51 on which the wall 56 is mounted, and defining with the members 63, the container receivers, generally indicated at 60, and in which receivers 60 containers C are adapted to be supported in canted position when their bung holes have been placed over the nozzles 3| later to be described. The sides of containers C bear against the rail 6| on the outer wall 51 while the bottoms bear on the rail 62. .(See Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7).

From the floor 51 of each receiver extends a drain pipe 30.

The riser head 6 terminates in a swivel joint l9 from L which the washing fluid conduit ll leads to the space in the container carrier S under the receivers 60 and there it is connected, as may best be seen in Fig. 6, toa substantiale 1y circular conduit 2! which terminates in aninwardly disposed portion 22 including a pressure relief valve 2P.

As before stated, the rinsing fluid conduit it extends axially through the riser head 6 and includes a swivel joint from which the pipe it leads to the space in the container carrier S under the receivers til where it is connected (see Fig. i) to a circular conduit 23 spaced inwardly and 24 will be understood from a consideration of the drainage system to be later described.

From a suitable source (not shown) a compressed air line 25 (see Figs. 4 and 7) including a swivel joint 26 and a pipe 21 leads into the space in the container carrier S under the receivers 60 where it is connected to a circular conduit 28 positioned between the conduits 2| and 23.

From each of the conduits 2|, 23 and 28, branch lines 2|, 23 and 28 lead to the intake ports 25%, 23, and 28 of the valve casing 33 as may bestbe seen in Fig. 12,- one of which is positioned beneath each receiver 60 and supported between the walls 51 and 5'! (see Figs. 4, 5, 6,. and 7).

The nozzle 3| extends from the valve casing 33 through the receiver floor 51 and is connected through the valve casing 33. by a by-Dass 33 opening into the casing 33 at 33 and 33? while an air conduit 3| passes axially through the nozzle 3| and enters the casing 33 at 3|. The nozzle 3| is provided with a. spray cap 3|".

On each side of the air inlet 28, are valve drains 33 (Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 14) adapted to discharge at substantially the same place as the receiver drain as will be hereinafter more completely described.

Within the valve casing 33, there is a valve generally indicated by the. reference numeral 34 which consists of a rod 35 carrying three pairs of members 34, each pair of which is adapted. on proper positioning, to connect a desired intake port with the appropriate outlet port.

In operation intermediate of the connection of washing and rinsing fluids to the nozzle 3|, air is connected by the middle pair of members 34 and during this time, adjacent members of adja'cent pairs are adapted to permit fiuidto drain parts of the valve casing 33 common to both fluids. bers, and these inlet ports and outlet ports are These pairs of mem-' so, arranged 7 ,members 34.

thermore, the valve The rod 35 is slidably guided through the inner wall 55 and is provided with a: roll 35 adapted to contact cams in the cani track 31 supported by the circular wall I on' the base 1.

Before considering the cams above referred to and the drainage systemutilized to return each fluid from the'y'rotating container carrier S to its tank of source-I will describe the means utilized to exhaust fluidsfrom the interior of the containers."

. For the details of construction, reference may be made to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 As shown, asuc tion chamber 32 is suitably mounted on the floor- 51 ofeach receiver 50 adjacent the nozzle 3|. Suction is created-therein by the rush of air therethrough as through the pipe 32 extending through the floor 51 and entering the valve cas- I ing 33 as when air is being injected into a container C through the nozzle portion 3|.

As shown in Fig-11, the suction chamber in-' cludes a fluid inlet 32 which serves as a pivot for anda passage communicating'with the arm 38 having a curved tip 38. Normally, the tension spring 39- and the stops 39 keep the tip 38 adr tionis created eflective eted in the chime ofia container is placed 0v "forcing the tip container as shown end outlets 43 and jacent the nozzle 3i so that as the bung hole oia of said bung hole wiin .Fighlil. In this position, when air passes. through the chamber 32, a sueto withdraw, water pockcanted container through the arms 38 andthechamber 32 where it is discharged into, the receiver 60 and escapes through the drain 33. p I

The drainage system maybe clearly understood from a consideration of Figs. 4 and 14; Tanks or compartments l0 and 40 'onthe barrel encircle the wall I and these tanks are supported on conduits 43 and 43 separated from one another by a wall 43.

. e The tank 40* 'includesa circular portion lying inthe path of the end 24 ofthe rinsing fluid conduit 23- therethrough' the rinsing The tank 40? includes a fluid, may be collected. similar circular portion ,in the path of the discharge 22;}for the washing I The washing andrinaing fluid fluid conduit -2l. v I I collecting .tanks 33% and 40 include enlarged portions in thezone in which the washing "and rinse ing fluids are connected to the nozzles 3|; that is, in the washing zone the tank '30! is enlarged-t0. lie under drains 30 and the'valve 33*; while in rinsingzone.

. As, in the] form-shownin vide two tanks in the base conduit 43 for the rinsing 43 open to the'tanks R and the conduit l3 has I- for each hold, the

R respectively. Similarly,

outlets 43 and 43' to the tanks W! or Wrespectively.

A: valve 41 is' provided with each tank 40'- and 40 to 'direct'the drainage in either direction in the conduits l3 and fluid may be returned to the tank of source.

The cams controlling the operation of my device remain'tobe considered and it is thought r that a full consideration of those cams requires a i is adapted to move each valve 3| r the nozzle 3i, the edges bear against the arm- 38' 33 i'nto the'lowest point of the so that whenever'there is a discharge 43' respectively so that the consideration of the operation for a full standing of my apparatus.

, I use cams. mounted on the cam track 31 to' establish washing; rinsing, and drying zones through whichthe container receivers 80 pass as the container carrier '8 rotates. Each container is reconditioned as the container carrier com,- pletes-itsrotation as to that container so that a underloading. and removing zone is required so that as .10

the containers are successively reconditioned they may be replaced by 'dirty containers.

Further as economy of fluids is an essential factor, the washing and rinsing zones areinterrupted by a draining of the valves, the receiver, and the container.

These cams, it is thought, may be fully understood from Figs. 1, 6, '7, 8, 9 and 14. The cam 36 to a position in which it closes all the conduits to the nozzle. The

loading or removing zone may, therefore, be defined'as between the cams 36 and 36 and as the container receivers 60 pass successively therethrough, containers are removed and replaced.

moves the valve, as may be seen in Fig. 6, so that one pair of members 34 permit the washing fluid to flow through the nozzle 3|. Through" this zone, the other parts of members 34- close the conduits 'The cam, 36, when contacted by the rolls for the air and the rinsing fluid. The washing 30 zone isdefined by the are from cam 36 to thecam 36.

The cam 36 is adapted to move the valve 34 to connect the rinsing fluid conduit to the nozzle 3 I and it is to be noted that a change from one fluid injection to the other requires the longest possible movement of the valve resulting in the, central pair of members 34." connecting the air conduit 23 to the nozzle air pipe 3i and creating a fluid exhausting suction in the chamber 32 as maybe seen in Fig. '7. -When the air. is "thus connected, adjacent members of adjacent pairs define, as may also be seen in Fig. 7, a drainage conduit to the valve drains 33. For that reason, I shape the cam 36"as may be best seen in Fig. 1 .tokeep the valve in this position for a'sufilcient length of time to ensure the complete drainage of the valve casing 33, a container-C and the receiver 63 in whichit is carried before the container is beyond the enlarged portion of the tank for the washing fluid and over the enlarged portion of the, rinsing fluid collecting tank 30 and before the rinsing flilldis iniected.

The rinsing, zone is defined by the are between cams 36 and the cam 36 which latter cam is adapted to move the valves 34 to connect the draining and drying system just described in connection with Fig. 'l. The position of: the valves Y (i0 :L the g n enhrgd A8 in the drying zone. (defined by. the are be- .lie under the. drains 30 "and'th'e 'valve'drains 33,

the drawings,=-I proin the rinsing zone may be best seen in Fig.5.

tweenicam 36. and the cam 36; whlch'latter cam' closes all conduits) containers mustbe thorough- 1y dried, this zone isof substantial heated, containers positioned in each receiver 33 over the nozzles 3| result, automatically, in the H and the valves 4| are positioned to return.

drainage collected to its tank of source.

Rotation of the container carrier S is now effective to carry containers through the various zones so that when returned to the loading zone one container will bein a condition to be replaced by a dirty barrel while others are progressively nearing complete reconditioning, the progress of each being determined by the zone in which it is and its position in that some.

Although the fluids are circulated separately,

andscum traps are of assistance, the fluids will eventually become unfit for further use. Most frequently, the washing fluid becomes dirty be fore the rinsing fluid is in unsatisfactory condition but whenever this condition results the operator need only move the valve H in control of the tank W and open the other valve II in control of the alternate tank and also turn the valve 4|? to direct the return fluid back to the alternate tank as desired. The tank W may then be drained, flushed out, refilled and heated so that my apparatus may remain in continuous operation until all the containers are reconditioned. While effectiveness is the desired result this effectiveness is obtained, in accordance with my invention with eillciency and economy.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a base, a support mounted for rotation over said base a container receiver in said support, a valve casing mounted in said support and having outlet ports communicating with said receiver and a plurality of intake ports, washing and rinsing liquid sources communicating respectively with said intake ports, a valve in said casing, means on said base for operating said valve in timed relation to the rotation of the support to open said ports to deliver said liquids separately to said receiver, and a siphon in said receiver controlled by said valve to exhaust one delivered liquid from the container before the delivery of the other liquid.

2. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a base,- a support mounted for rotation over said base, a container receiver in said support, a valve casing mounted in said support and having separate outlet ports for air and liquid communicating with said re-. ceiver, and a plurality of intake ports, washing and rinsing liquid and compressed air sources each communicating with one of said intake ports, a valve in said casing, means on said base for operating said valve in timed relation to the rotation of said support to open said ports to. deliver said liquids separately to said receiver and'to deliver compressed air between the deliveries of liquid,'and a siphon connected to said casing and operating to'exhaust the delivered liquid from the container when compressed air is passing thereinto.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means on thebase for operating the valve are a plurality of fixed cams disposed for successive contact with the valve as it rotates therepast.

e 4. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a support, a container receiverin said support, washing and rinsing liquid sources, an air source, valve controlled means in said support to connect said sources separately to a container positioned in said receiver, means. for automatically operating said valve controlled means in timed order, and a siphon in said receiver controlled by said valve controlled means to exhaust one delivered liquid from the container in said receiver while air is'being delivered to said container and before the delivery of the other liquid to the container.

5.'The apparatus of claim 4 in which the siphon is mounted in the receiver and includes a suction chamber open to said receiver and operably connected with-said valve controlled means when air is being delivered to the container, and

means communicating with said chamber and designed to extend into the interior of the container.

6. In apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers, a base, a support rotatably mounted on said base, a container receiver carried by said support, a washing liquid tank, a rinsing liquid tank, valve controlled means for delivering said liquids separately from said tanks to a container positioned in said receiver, said means including an independent conduit for each liquid, 8. portion of each conduit being rotatable with said support, a pressure relief valve in each rotatable portion, said relief valves having concentric paths, a drain from said receiver delivering intermediate the paths of said rotatable relief valves, means to actuate said valve controlled means and means to return the used liquids to their tanks of source,

said return means comprising a tank mounted on being enlarged in the path of said receiver-drain to receive the liquid therefrom during the delivery of that liquid to said receiver as determined by said means to actuate said valve controlled means.

7. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a support, a container receiver in said support, a valve casing mounted in said support and having outlet ports communicating with said receiver and a plurality of intake ports, washing and rinsing liquid sources communicating respectively with said intake ports, a valve in said casing, means for operating said valve in timed order to open said ports to deliver said liquids separately to a container positioned in said receiver, and a siphon in said receiver controlled by said valve to exhaust one deliveredliquid from the container before the delivery of the other liquid.

8. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a support, a container receiver in said support, a valve casing mounted in said support and having separate outlet ports for liquids and air communicating with said receiver and a plurality of intake ports, washing and rinsing liquids and air sources each communicating with one of said intake ports, a'valve in said casing, means for operating said valve in'timed order to open said ports to deliver air between the-deliveries of liquids, anda siphon connected to said receiver and controlled by said valve and operating to exhaust the delivered liquids from a container positioned in said receiver when air is passing therei'nto.

9. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a container support, a

valve casing and a nozzle mounted in said support,

CLEANING AND LIQUID CONTACT WITH soups said valve casing having separate outlet ports for air and liquid communicating with said nozzle, and a plurality of intake ports, washing and rinsing liquid and air sources communicating respectively with said intake ports, a valve in said casing, means to actuate said valve to open said ports to deliver said liquids separately through said nozzle to a container in said support, and to deliver air to said container between the deliveries of liquid thereto, and a siphon operated by air delivered to said container to exhaust liquid from the container.

10. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a container support, washing and rinsing liquid sources, an air source, valve-controlled means to connect said sources separately to a container in said support. means operating said valve-controlled means in predetermined order, and a siphon for exhausting liquid from the container, said siphon being controlled WU! bll by the valve-controlled means and being operated by air delivered to the container.

11. Apparatus for reconditioning the interiors of containers comprising a container support, means to deliver washing and rinsing liquids separately to a container in said support and to deliver air between the deliveries of liquid, and a suction member operated by the delivery of air to the container to exhaust liquid from the container.

12. Apparatus for reconditioning containers comprising a support, a container receiver in said support, means including a valve control to deliver separately washing liquids, rinsing liquids and air to a container positioned in said receiver, and suction means operated by the delivery of air to said container to exhaust liquid from the container.

SAMUEL F. KIMBALL. 

